The caves of the ancients weren't far from their camp, Happy, Natsu, Levy, Gajeel, Lucy and Erza followed the river, while the others stayed back to clean up.
"Are you sure your ok to walk?" Lucy pestered.
"I told you I'm fine, it's only a bruise. You think I' gonna pass up the opportunity to see the caves of the ancients?"
"Bookworm," Gajeel smirked. Levy pouted in frustration, pulling out her leather-bound book from her bag. Gajeel had to grit his teeth, damn why'd she have to be so cute? The entrance to the cave was hidden behind a curtain of green ivy, he pulled it back letting the girls through. Levy smiled brightly at him, he smiled back - it was more like a smirk. Her head shot down hiding a blush and she busied her self with her books. Why was she blushing?
"It's pitch black in here." Lucy squinted.
"Wait," Erza smirked as a small blue light appeared, followed by another and another, "These are the finders, they are the ones tasked with finding a suitable vessel for the deity."
Levy dropped her book back in her bag. She reached out to touch it, it drew her in. The cave opened up into a large space. The ceiling looked like a million galaxies converging into a crystal chandelier. The floor was filled with water and the walls covered in crystals.
"It's beautiful." Levy was speechless. Gajeel gaped at her face, illuminated with blue starlight. Realising he was staring he shut his mouth and stood near her. She stumbled slightly, he instinctively put out his arms to catch her. Levy felt the large warm hands on her back and arm, they were firm but soft with a few callouses. Instead of springing away from him, which should have been her first reaction, she melted into his touch as he helped her up, she was put out to lose the warmth he provided in the cold caves. Both easily hid their blushes in the darkness.
"You like herrrrrr," Happy chanted as soon as Levy was out of ear shot. Gajeel was ready to beat the living daylights out of the annoying feline, but it flew over to levy and perched on her head, much to the girl's surprise.
She marvelled at the delicate markings etched on the walls. "Lucy could you help me get some samples?" no answer, "Lucy?" The group turned. Lucy was staring at the finders, following them into the centre of the pool.
"This is bad," Erza cried.
"LUCY GET OUT OF THERE!" Natsu cried. She didn't flinch, she reached out to the light, unblinking, unwavering.
"LU CHAN!" Levy called.
"LUCY! Listen to me, you gotta get out of there!" She stopped, Natsu's voice echoing in the cave. Her face was tranquil, her pupils dilated. Walls shook, vines sprouted from the walls, grasping onto her - cocooning her.
"Lucy!" Gajeel and Erza tore into the water - ripping at the vines. They sliced open the cocoon, she was warm, her clothing ripped to pieces and replaced by flowers and vines - her eyes glowing green. They rushed her into the open.
"Wake up! Lucy you have to wake up! Whats wrong with her?" Levy cried.
"They chose her, but how?" Gajeel muttered.
"Fallen star." Natsu muttered.
"Lucy!" Levy coughed and woke from her trance, her eyes returning to normal.
"What happened?" She dazed.
"The finders are becoming desperate, we should have realised." Erza apologised.
"You were closest to the water, they need a deity, even just temporarily till they found Yukirano."
"Yukirano?"
"The next deity - she was fortold as a child of stars, with hair of snow."
"You don't think Yukirano could be…" Lucy started.
"Yukino?" Levy finished her friends thought.
The group made their way back to camp, but received a surprise.
"Lucy!" A redhead greeted them
"Flare? What are you doing here?"
"Well the council worked out a treaty with Makarov and they've started sending us down." Flare explained. "More importantly love the new dress, does it come with a salad?" Lucy blushed and went inside to change.
"Carla!" Lily hugged his daughter, she nodded at him. Gajeel turned to ask something but found the bookworm next to him missing. Instead she was talking to a blonde guy from the ship, Gajeel had an urge to punch the pretty boy.
"Hibiki! How are you?" Levy hugged her friend.
"Good, and don't worry I made sure the research facility was organised to perfection. They'll be sending it down in about a week." He smiled at his efficiency.
"I meant did you pop the question?" Levy poked him in the ribs.
"Oh, yeah. She said yes!"
"Told ya, but I hope I won't lose my best archiver?"
"Don't worry, I'll still be working with you and Jellal."
Levy turned to see if she could see Jenny. She had naturally found someone's ear to talk off…unfortunately it was Gajeels. She giggled and Gajeel rolled his eyes and Jenny kept talking, and talking, and talking.
"Poor Gajeel…"
"Jenny?" Hibiki dragged his fiancé away from the taller man. Gajeel relieved at the blonde couples absence turned back to the girl making a beeline for her lab. He followed and ended up bumping into Lucy, now dressed in a green tank top and khaki skirt.
"Oh good I need your help." She said dragging him to the bridge and calling the Dome.
"Yukino, hi." Lucy said sheepishly.
"Lucy, hi, I was just about to call, my ship leaves in an hour. I'm so excited!"
"About that, Yukino, we think you are next inline to be the village protector." Lucy stepped back and ushered for Gajeel to continue.
"Our village deity dies a year ago, the next deity to protect our village is Yukirano - the white angel fallen from the stars. The human chosen by the Earth is transformed and becomes one with the Earth." Gajeel parroted the speech he'd read on the cave wall.
"I see, I don't mind."
"Yukino…"